Talking-machine or the like



H. SHAFER. TALKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION HLED APR. 6, 1918- v I 1,384,409. Patented July 12, 1921.

3 $HEETS-SHEET IL I H. SHAFER.

TALKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6, [918.

mliiiiiiiiiiiiiiif Patented July 12,1921;

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- H. SHAFER.

TALKING MACHINE OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 6. I918.

1,384,409. I Patented July 12, 1921.

CZQ. Q

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- Y we STATES PATENT i- F T 'I- 'faunas,"snares. or inn, irrozre'nn.

' f unsure-Immune 'rlnm To all it may concern Be it known that I, HEN-RY. SH'AFER,7&

' citizen ofthe United States, residing at Ida,-

' in the county of Monroe and State of Michi an, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Talking-Machines or the like of which'the following is a description. Li invention belongs to that general clas of evices known as talking machines, phonographs or the like, for recording or reproducingmusic, lectures, addresses -or the like, and relates particularly to a machine in which the same may be operated for the recording. or reproducing so as to make possible a long, continuous, audible performance of sounds without any unnatural or undesired pause between difierent records. The invention has among its ob'ects the production of a machine of the 1nd described which may be'employed 1n recordmg or reproducing sounds u n or from one or more recorddllSkS, cylmders or the l ke, which device is simple, convenient, durable, dependable, efficient and satisfactory for use whereverioundapplicable. It has particularly as an'object the production of an automatically controlled machine of the klnd described which will accurately operate to produce the desired result without dependmg upon the skill of the operator. 'lhe device is particularly designed for recordin upon suitablerecords the desired soun s which may be produced while movln p 1ctures are being taken, as well as a evioe which will reproduce the sounds in conjunction withthe displaying or reproducmg of the pictures which'have been taken, so that a more life-like or natural performance may be produced, and talking or sounds may be reproduced in synchronlsm with the pictures and continuously-therewith. The same 1s also suitable forthe playing of dance music,

operas, etc. I Many other ob ects, advantages and uses of the apparatus herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

To this end, my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combinationof parts herein-shown'and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or correspondlng p Fi re 1 is a plan view .of mypreferred inaohme partially shown diagrammatically;

\ 7 spa s of Letters Patent. "Patented July 2 v Application mu Apr l aim. Sum a Fig. 2 is a view in elevation taken subsummany on; line 2-2 of Fig. 1- of a portion thereof;

Fig. 3 is a sectional'view tlally on line 3-3 of Fig. 5; Flg. 4.- is a sectional view taken many on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional tlally on line 5-5 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 6 is a plan view tion of one of. the records and switch members shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 ing mechanism between the record carriers;

Flg. 8 1s a view in elevation of a modified arrangement of the records and carriers;

taken substansubstanview taken 'substan enlarged of a por- Fig. -9 1s a view in elevation of a modified construction in which the controllin is l1done mechanically rather than electrica ig. 10 is a view in elevation ofthe same; and 1g. 11 1s a sectional view taken substantially on line 11 -11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings, it may be mentioned that I have shown two-types of apparatus for carrying'out. the invention, one being electrically controlled and operated and the other mechanically. Figs. 1 to 7 illustrate the electrically controlled a paratus, and Figs. 9 to 11- the mechanical, ig. 8 showing an arrangement which may be adoptedwith either type of controlling apparatus. Heretofore machines have been produced embodying a plurality of records from which the reproducing element, or elements are successively placed into operation to prevent astopping of the machine when a single record as been played, but as far as I am aware, it has never been proposed to drive the record support continuously .at the same rate of speed so as to produce the proper sound when the transmitting mechanism for one recordis brought into operation. Where the machines are arranged so that one record stops and another simultaneously starts there is a variation in speed due to the stopping and starting, and the least variation in the speed of the rotating the other causes a change in the pitch or tone reproduced. This, how'ever, is a fatal defect 1n connection with moving pictures as the particularsound roduced must come at. the right time or the result may be a laughable farce, detracting from the picture, or-from the story, music, lecture or whatever it might be. It is also undesirable in the case of dance music or operas. With my improved apparatus the records are played or made in succession, one after another, one stopping at the end and the other simultaneously taking it up and continuingwith out a break, giving a continuous effect as if one record were employed regardless of whether two or an infinite number of records are employed. With my mach1neherein described both records are traveling at the same speed at the time of the disengage ment of one transmitting mechanism w1th its record, and the engagement of the other I manufacture of the records.

transmitting mechanism with its record. I have referred to the records as being played or that is reproduced, but in recording matter on a record that is to be reproduced, this original sound is recorded by. means of a recorder, and the trade-has generally termed this as recording, the same occurring in the By the term reproducing, however, I wish to be understood as including producing or reproducing of the original sound on the record and recording it, as well as the reproduction of the same from the record in the sense generally understood. I might also mention that I have illustrated a disk type of appatransmitting mechanisms, whether recorders or reproducers, and driving mechanism that will operate the record carriers in'unison or successively. While the machine may be equipped to handle any desired number of records, two is ordinarily suflicient as the operator can change one record while the other is playing, but there is no limit to the apparatus.

number of mechanisms which may be associated and arranged to control each other in succession or in a redetermined manner. Referring particular y to Figs. 1 and 3,'in which one type of apparatus-is shown, 1 represents a suitable base, as for instance a cabinet or casing which may itself contain the horn or sound gathering or dispensing Mounted on the base are the rotatable record carriers 3 and 5 which are adapted to carry .the records where the records are of the disk type. The carriers are adapted to be rotated or driven by :the sha s 6, and. these may be driven by a common shaft 7, intermediate gearing 8, or

equivalent means for the purpose. Shaft 7 may be driven by main shaft 10, operated by a suitable source of power and connected to shaft 7 by gearing 11 or its equivalent.

I provide clutch mechanism 9 so thateither'. shaft may be driven or stopped at Wlll. It

well known type. These are shown conuected with a common horn, tone part of flue 14, it being. understood that this may be of the desiredconstruction. In this case the arms 12 and 13 are mounted on 14 so that they may swing in the usual manner. The disks 2 and 4 may be of the desired shape, size and construction, and in the particular type of apparatus shown in Figs. 1 to 7 I have shown the same provided with a hole 18, so that electrical contact members when mounted on the carriers, may be arranged above the disk and arranged to cooperate with the arm when it reaches the end of its travel. The hole has an additional advantage as it necessitates the accurate position ing of the record on its support in such manner that one record may continue through the other without a break or overlap. The

switch shown, there being one for each rec- 0rd (see Figs. 3, 5 and 6), consists of a pair of referably resilient or yielding, arms. 19 and 20, having contacts 26, which are ad justably mounted on arms 21 and 22, 23 bein adjusting screws by means of which the evice may be adjusted for engagement with the arms 12 or 13 at the desired point. The arms 21 and 22 are pivotally secured at 24 to a support 25, so that they may be turned up in inserting or removing the record, and are each electrically connected as will be hereafter described. The switch just described and the particular apparatus illustrated is intended to release and set inaction supports under the arms 12 or 13 as the case may be. Arranged near the outside of each carrier is shown a bracket 27, which carries .a movable support member 28, or its equivalent arranged to carry the arm 12 or 13 with the needle 16, or its equivalent, off the record when that, particular part of the apparatus is not in operation. In the electrically controlled apparatus part 28 is arranged to be controlled by an arm 29 which s engaged at 30 and actuated by an electric magnet 31, or equivalent means for the purpose.

lieferrmg to Fig. 5, the carrier 3 (it being understood that carrier 5 is similarly wit ht e switch members'21 and their extending parts 19 a'nd 20, the two rings and switch arts being insulated from each other.

' was my be provided, the a being and 52,'two batteries bein battery 52, and this is connected mall spriii gs 36 or their'eqmvalents. The contact members 34 and 35 are electrically connected by conductors Y37 and 38 with the mechanism shown in Fig. 4 for-the opposite disk as is mostlclearly shown in Fig. 1, in which the wiring-is shown substantia y grammatically.

I also prefer to provide automaticallycontrolled means for 'lift' each of the arms 12 and 13 to a position w ere the needle will ge the record when the same reaches the en of'its travel and closes the ad aoent switch between the points 26. As most clearly shown in Figs. 1 and.2,40 represents an arm or bracket which carries an electric magnet 39, the same being so arranged that the arm is lifted at the end of its travel and substantially simultaneousl with the releasing or dropping of the ot or arm in engagement with the other record. I also provide, in the case illustrated, two drops or electrically controlled switches consisting of the magnets and 45', which are provided with the drop members 46' and looking members 46 therefor. These are similar to the well known types of relays or enunc i-- ator stops, and are therefore not shown in detail as the construction is obvious to those .skilled in the art. There may be employed'any suitable source or sources of electrical energy, but for the purpose I have shown batteries 42 shown to avold confusion and make the clrcuits clear. Iteferring to Fig. 1, conductor 38, e'xtend1ng from one disk, connects one side of the magnet 31 arranged to control the arm cooperating with the opposite disk. For clearness I shall assume that magnet 31 is energized, drawing member 28 to a position to release 'the transmitter 15 on arm 12, the arm 13 being held as shown. The opposite side or the other conductor to the magnet referred to 41 is connected with the battery 42, conductor 37 is connected withdrop 45, and this by conductor 44 with the battery. A conductor connects with drop 45' which is connected by conductor 47 with one of the rings on the other disk, and the other thereat is connected by conductor 48 wit the magnet 27, which is in turn connected by conductor 51 with the battery 42. 53 is a conductor connected with a switch contact member 54, connecting the same with through conductor 56 with magnet 39 arranged above disk 2. 'A conductor connects this magconnecte'd ontact members or brushes 34 and maintained in operative contact by dia- .4tobe ener tween contacts 54 and 55.

lines in Fig.1, the same bein cuit maybe traced :--46', 60,

4, and conductor 57 with battery 52. 'This magnet is connected by conductor 61 with the battery 52 through conductor 56 or its equivalent.

a siosition so that the needle engages the d the same traveling as usual toward the center of the rotating disk, as" soon as the same comes in contact with the switch part 20 arranged above that disk, a circmt is closed as follows; 38, magnet 31 adjacent the disk 4, 41, batter 42, conductor 44,

drop 45, 37 and throng the switch 38, closing the circuit, causing magnet 31 atdisk zed to release arm 13, and canse drop'45 to close the,circuit be- A circuit is thereupon formed as follows :46', 54 53, battery 52, conductor 56, magnet 39 above disk 2,,c'0ndu0tor 55, contact 55' and 46'. This causes magnet 39 above disk 2 to be energized so that arm 12 is raised substantially as shown in Fig. 2, lifting the needle 16 out of engagement with the disk 2. In the meantime, while the arm 13 is traveling to move the reproducer toward the center of the disk, record 2 may be chan ed and a new record positioned, arm 12 eing returned to-the position indicated by the full ing 46 of t 28; As' soon as arm 13 reac es a point to close theswitch 19-20 above disk 4, a circuit maybe traced as follows 2-19, 48, 31

(at disk 2),, 51, 44, battery and to the ring connected with one of the parts of ,the switch. This immediately causes arm 12 to be released and drop 46 of 45' bridge contacts 58 and 60, so that a cir- 59, magnet 39 above disk 4,61, 56, battery 52, 57, 58 and 46. Thisraises arm 13 out of operation. Another record ma then be substituted in place of disk 4. t will be seen from the preceding that simultaneously with the raismg of the arm 13, for example the arm 12 is dropped and continues until it, is raised and the other arm again dropped, there being suflicient time between-the playing of a record for a new record to be positioned. In

positioning a new record the witch describedand shown'in Fig. 3 may be'turned up so as to permit the removal and positioning of the record.

In Fig. 8, the records and mechanisms are shown as arranged one above the other, the

results being the same. In the mechanical? Assuming as mentioned that arm 12 is in supported by through a link 72'. The other member 74 is connected by link 65 with the pin 71' su porting arm 68. A bell-crank 7 6-77 or t e equivalent, is suitably mounted on the carrier above the disk, and is of such construction that as a record and its carrier engages the needle or other part carried by the transmitter, 70, the transmitter and the tone arm carrying it will move toward the center and the needle will engage 77. This will operate 77--76, which Wlll partially rock member 75, operating the rod 65 or 72 as the case may be so as to release the arm 68 or 69, as it may be. With this construction I.

have shown no means for lifting the arm to a point where the needle will not engage, the record. This may be done by the operator, or suitable means provided for the purpose.

Referring to Fig. 1, I have shown switches 62 and 63 which may be arranged at a remote point, and which may be connected by conductors 64 and 65 in the desired manner. As illustrated, the switches 62 and 63 may be arranged to be controlled by the operator of the moving picture machine or they may be arranged to be automatically controlled by the moving picture machine itself. It will be obvious that the phono raph herein described may be started at suc time as the operator of the moving picture machine desires, or as the particular picture requires. The switches S may be arran ed at the phonograph so that the record c anger can control the machine if necessary. a

By the word record as used in the specification and claims I wish to be understood as meaning a cylinder, roll, disk plate or other article of rubber, wax, paper, metal or other substance, which is to be or has been perforated, indented or otherwise prepared so as to reproduce sound, such as speech, vocal or instrumental music, etc., when brought into contact with certain apparatus, as the stylus, needle, point. or the like of a honograph, etc. Also by the Words soun trans-- mitting mechanism or reproducin means, I wish to be understood as inclu ing any mechanism arranged to cooperate with the record, said mechanism in the trade in one case being termed a-recorder and in the other a reproducer, the recorder being the instrumentior preparing the record and the reproducer t e instrument for reproducing the sound from the prepared record.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangementand combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 2- 1. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of associated record carrying vmechanisms,'means common to both of said 2. In a machine of the character described, I

a plurality of associated record carrying mechanisms, sound transmitting mechanisms arranged to cooperate with the records carried by said carrying mechanisms, means for rotating said carrying mechanisms, in combination with means for controlling said transmitting mechanisms whereby the same cooperate with the records, one at a time, said means including a controlling element arranged upon each carrying mechanism adapted to pass through'apertures in the record to be engaged by an element carried by the transmitting mechanisms.

3. In a machine of the character described,

record carrying mechanisms for a plurality of independent records, of a sound transmitting mechanism for each carrying mechanism in combination with means for automatically controlling said transmitting mechanisms whereby they are singly and successively placed in operation, said means including a contact on each record carrier located well within the periphery thereof and adapted to cooperate with the transmitting mechanism for controlling saidmechanism. I

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a plurality of record carriers, driving means for operating said carriers'at the same rate of speed, transmitting means arran ed to cooperate with and engage the recorgs on said carriers, means for automatically controlling said sound transmitting means, whereby when one transmitter reaches the end of a record the same will be lifted from operative relation therewith, and the other transmitter will be simultaneously moved into operative association with another record.

5. In a machine of the character described, a plurality of rotatable record carriers, driving means for operating saidcarriers, independent transmitters arranged to cooperate successively with the records on said carrier, means for automatically controlling said transmitters, whereby one transmitter is lifted from its record at a given time and another transmitter placed 1nto operative association with its record, said controlling means including controlling elements projecting through apertures in the record and adapted to coiiperate with means carried by the transmitter.

6. In a machineof the character described, a plurality of record carriers, independent sound transmitters, adapted to engage by said transmitters, circuits and electromagnets controlled by said switches for simultaneously placing one transmitter in position on its record while liiting a second transmitter from. its record.

7. "in a talking machine of the End described and in combination, a plurality of associated rotatable record carriers. and

'means for simultaneously driving the same,

a tone arm on each carrier, each tone arm.-

provided with sound transmitting mechanism arranged to coiiperate with the record mounted on and movable with its respective carrier, means for supporting each of said arms with the transmitting mechanism out of engagement with the records, controlling means or each of said supporting means, said controlling means havin mechanisms arranged to cooperate with t e tone arms when the same havetrav'eledapredetermined distance, whereby one arm is automatically released and its sound transmitting mechanism becomes effective on the 'rotati record when. the other armhas reache the limit of its travel, and coiiperating mechanism for controlling said last mentioned other arm to lift the needle carried thereby out of engagement with its rotating record simultaneously with the engagement of theone efiective needle carriedby the other arm with its record, whereby one transmitting mechanism will become inoperative simultaneously with the other one becoming operative.

8. Ina machine of the character described the combination with a plurality of record carriers, and means for rotating said carriers, of transmitters for each record carried by said carriers, automatically acting means for placing one transmitter into operative relation wit its record, andto simultaneously remove the other transmitter from association with its record, said means including a pluralit of electro magnets cooperating with t e transmitters, and controlling switches disposed near the axis of each rec- 0rd carrier, and adapted to be engaged during the movement of'the transmltters, substantially as described. p

9. In a machine of the character described the combination with a plurality-of record carriers, and means for rotating said carriers, of transmitters for each record carried by said carriers, automatically acting means for placing one transmitter operative relation with its record, andto simultaneously remove the other transmitter from associa tion with its record, said means incli'rding a plurality of electro-magnets cooperating with the transmitters, and controlling switches disposed near the axis oi each record carrier, and adapted to be engaged during the movement of the transmitters, the controlling switches passing through apertures in the record and having pivoted portions adapted to lie arallel with the surface of eachrec- 0rd w on in an operative position.

10. A machine of the character described, comprising a plurality of record carriers, and driving means for rotating said carriers, a transmitter for each carrier, means acting automaticall for simultane'ousl lifting one transmitter om its record, an placing another in operative association with its rec- 0rd, said means including, controlling switches and electro-magnets, supports for the magnets, said magnets overlying the transmitters and adapted to be energized to raise a transmitter and deenergized to rmit a transmitter to drop in contact with its record.- r

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Ror W. Hum,

cm I. Conn.

it'd 

